Music-leaf turner.



R. BLANK;

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 0O'I.2l, 1911 1.035373. Patented Aug. 13,1912.

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MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 001.21,1911.

Patent ed Aug. 13, 1912,.

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R. BLANK.

MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.21,1911.

Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

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RUDOLPH BLANK, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-EIGHTH TO MORITZ HERSKOVITZ, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH BLANK, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Music- Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention comprehends improvements in music leaf turners, and aims to provide a device of this character which may be actuated by the foot of the operator so that the sheets may be turned when desired, without necessitating the use of the hands.

One object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character which shall be simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and efiicient and positive in operation.

The invention embodies a music stand comprising a base, upon which is mounted a standard, the standard being pivotally secured thereto, and a spring actuated turning arm upon which is mounted a leaf holder, the turning arm being controlled by a release mechanism, which latter is under the control of the foot of the operator thereby eliminating the use of the hands.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, hereinafter set forth, and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a portion of this specification; Figure 1 is a front elevation of a music leaf turner constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 4 is a detail plan view of the turning arm. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of one of the fixed leaf holders. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of one of the adjustable leaf holders. Fig. 7 is a detail side elevation of the release mechanism, parts being shown in section. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the receptacle containing the operating bulb, parts being broken away, and Fig. 9 is a modified form of release mechanism.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my in- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 21, 1911.

Patented A11 13, 1912.

Seria1 No. 656,001.

vention and in which similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the base of the music holder, preferably, formed of a single sheet of metal and comprising a rectangular frame, the sides of which are interconnected by means of longitudinal and transverse cross bars 2 and 3. At its lower end the base 1 is formed to provide an outwardly projecting ledge 4; depending from which are a plurality of supporting feet 5, which latter may be used to support the base upon a piano when the same is used in connection therewith. At its upper right hand corner the base 1 is formed to provide an inwardly extending portion 6, the purpose of which will be hereinafter fully described. The numeral 7 designates a stand upon which the base 1 is mounted for support when it is desired to use the same in this manner.

Pivotally secured to the lower end of the cross bar 3 a standard 8, the same being normally spring pressed against the bar 3 through the medium of a spring hinge 9. At its upper end the standard 8 is provided with a plurality of openings in which are secured the hinges 10 of turning arms 12 and 13. The turning arm 13 is arranged in advance of the arm 12 and in alinement therewith, and for this purpose is bent angularly as at 14 whereby the hinge thereof may be below the hinge of the arm 12. Each of the arms 12 and 13 have fixedly secured thereto, adjacent their inner ends, leaf holders 15, each of which comprises a pair of relatively movable arms 16 and 17 pivoted to each other intermediate their length and having one end portion formed to provide operating handles 19, the operation of the handles 19 serving to disengage the gripping fingers 18 so as to permit the insertion of a sheet of music between said fingers. Slidably mounted upon the outer extremities of the arms 12 and 13 are adjustable leaf holders 20, each of which comprises a pair of movable arms 21 and 22 pivoted to each other intermediate their length as at 23 and having their lower ends formed to provide gripping members 24, the upper ends of the said arms being formed to provide operating handles 25, under the influence of which the members may be separated so as to insert a sheet of music between the arms 21 and 22. Intermediate its length and rearwardly of the pivotal connection 23, the arm 22 is formed to provide a strap 26 in which is mounted a spring 27 designed to engage the rear portion of one of the arms l2'or 13 upon inserting the same into the strap 26. From this construction it will be seen that the adjustable leaf holders 20 may move along the arms 12 and 13, and toward or away from the stationary members 15 whereby to adapt the arms to various sized music sheets.

Pivotally secured to the inwardly extending portion 6 of the base 1 and projecting outwardly therefrom at right angles thereto is a release mechanism 28, comprising a latch bar 29 formed at its rear end to provide lateral extensions 30 and 31. The extension 30 is provided with an opening and is adapted to be inserted between cars 32 formed adjacent the portion 6 of the base and provided with openings adapted to aline with the opening in the projection 30 for the purpose of receiving a pintle whereby the release mechanism may be pivoted upon the base. The extension 31 is formed to provide a hook 33, in which is engaged one end of a spring 34, the opposite ends of said spring being engaged in a retaining member 35 carried by the projecting portion 6 of the base. At its outer extremity the latch bar 29 is formed to provide a depending lug 36 designed to engage the outer turning arm 13 to hold the same in operative position. Intermediate its ends the latch bar 29 is provided with a lug 37 of less length than the lug 36 and adapted to engage the inner turning arm 12 to hold the same in open position. Rearwardly of the lug 37 the latch bar 29 is provided with a retainer 38, which latter depends from the bar 29 and substantially incloses the lug 37, one terminal thereof being in alinement with and forward of the lower end of the said lug. From this construction it will be understood that in the lifting of the latch bar the lug 36 is disengaged from the turning arm 13, permitting the same to swing under the influence of its spring hinge 10 so as to bring another sheet of music into view. When the lug 36 is disengaged from the turning arm 13, the lug 37 is also disengaged from the turning arm 12, but the latter is prevented from swinging under the influence of its hinge by means of the retainer 38. Upon the latch bar 29 assuming its normal position the arm 12 is permitted to pass through the gap between the retainer 38 and the lug 37, whereby the said arm will be brought into engagement with the lug 36 under the influence of its spring.

For the purpose of operating the releasing mechanism 28 the other extremity of the arm 29 is provided with a depending lug 39. The lug 39 is arranged in alinement with an opening 40 formed in the base 1 adjacent the portion 6 thereof, and in this opening 40 is positioned a cylinder 41 inclosing a spring retracted plunger and provided upon its rear end with a threaded nipple 42. Threadedly engaging the nipple 42 is a flexible tube 43, the free end of which is provided with an operating bulb 44. Upon pressing the bulb 44 the plunger is forced into engagement with the lug 39, operating the releasing mechanism as hereinbefore described.

As the bulb 44 is designed to be placed upon the floor and actuated by the foot of the operator, I have provided a housing for the said bulb so that the same may be held in one position thereby obviating the necessity of continuously looking for the bulb to lo cate the same. This housing comprises a box 45, formed of telescopic sections 46 and 47 having their front walls formed with elongated alining slots 48, only one of which is shown, and through which projects the tube 43. The section 46 is slidably disposed within the member 47 and is adapted to be manipulated by the foot of the operator whereby the said section may be caused to engage the bulb for the purpose described. The sections 46 and 47 are provided with telescopic tubes 49 and 50 respectively, the tube 50 having mounted therein a helical expansion spring 51 designed to engage the free end of the tube 49 so as to return the section 46 to its normal position upon the operator releasing the same.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired, as are within the scope of the claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is:

A music leaf turner comprising a base, a standard pivotally mounted upon the base, a plurality of turning arms pivotally secured to said standard adjacent the upper end thereof, a leaf holdermounted upon each of said arms and adapted to hold a sheet of music, said base being provided with an inwardly extending portion, a release mechanism pivotally secured to said inwardly extending portion of the base, said mechanism being provided with a depending lug arranged in alinement with an opening formed in the inwardly extending port-ion of the base, a plunger arranged in the opening and RUDOLPH BLANK.

in alinement with said lug, means for operating said plunger whereby said lug may be moved to operate the release mechanism to effect the release of the turning arms, said releasemechanism including ahooked extension, and a spring connected to said hook and to the base and adapted to restore the release mechanism to its normal position Witnesses:

JOHN W. COULTER, DORA M. NIOKLAESS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

